Studies on electrolyte-gated transistors aiming at sustainable printed electronics

• Grant number: 23/02186-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Neri Alves
• Grantee: Mayk Rodrigues do Nascimento
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/23792-4 - "Preparation of Transistors Using Sustainable Substrates Aiming at Applications in Fully Biodegradable Devices, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Sustainable printed electronics is an area that seeks to reduce the environmental impact of electronic device production and disposal. Printed electronics use printing techniques on materials such as paper, polymer, and fabric to create electronic circuits and components. In addition, printed electronics offer the possibility of creating lighter, more flexible, and portable devices that can be easily integrated into other products, such as clothing and packaging. In this context, the electrolyte-gated transistor (EGT) is compatible with sustainable printed electronics and can replace conventional transistors, which use oxides as gate-insulating material. Furthermore, EGTs offer other advantages such as low operating voltage and the possibility of being integrated into flexible devices. When it comes to sustainable devices, the concern is focused on the choice of materials, as they must be environmentally friendly while providing good device efficiency. Basically, EGTs are composed of four layers: substrate, electrode, semiconductor, and electrolyte. For the substrate, a suitable candidate is a polylactic acid (PLA), as it can be used as a raw material in a 3D printer, allowing optimization of its geometry, in addition to being biodegradable and biocompatible. As an electrode, laser-induced graphene (LIG) can be mentioned. This conductor has good electrical conductivity and can be produced using homemade systems of simple construction, in addition to allowing its transfer from one substrate to another. Zinc oxide in the form of nanoparticles is an excellent candidate to be the active layer of the device, as it is environmentally friendly and compatible with printing techniques. For the electrolyte, honey stands out, as it has good ionic conductivity and excellent characteristics for EGTs.Finally, it is intended to manufacture EGTs using printing techniques containing biodegradable materials. As it is a new and unexplored area, the modification/exchange of the materials mentioned above will also be evaluated to increase the efficiency of the device. The characterizations of both materials and EGTs will aim at possible applications in neuromorphic systems using resistive charge inverters, in which response times in electrical/dynamic device characterizations will be analyzed.